Applicator



Feb; 24, 1931. WASHBURN ET AL 1,794,221

nrmcnon Filed Sept. 9. 1929 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATS PATENT; OFFICE BURTON A. WASHBURN AND FRED S. LACK, OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNORS TO LACK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PADUGAH, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION APPLICATOR Application fi1ed September 9,. 1929. Serial'No. 891,438. v

This invention relates to surgical instruments and, among other objects, aims to provide an improved, simple, eflicaoious and relatively inexpensive device for applying ointments or other medicinal preparations to the vaginal cavity for treatment of a diseased or infected vagina or womb. More particularly it aims to provide improved means for inserting a novel pad carrying an ointment to the neck of the womb and having provision to release the pad so that it will be displaced when the applicator is removed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form of applicator;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View;

Fig. 3 is another longitudinal sectional View, showing a pad about to be released by the instrument; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the applicator with the pad in place.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the instrument there shown includes a pad-hold ing head 10 having a. tubular, handle extension 11 conveniently screw-threaded to the reduced rear end of the head and a plunger 12 having a cup-shaped piston or expelling member 13 works in the tube. Herein, a flanged plug 14 is secured in the end of the tubular extension and an ordinary knob 15'is removably secured to the plunger rod so that v the rod can be inserted through the head when the knob is removed.

In this example, the head is rounded so as to present a smooth exterior surface being approximately hemispherical and presents a bowl-shaped pad-receiving opening which preferably has a substantially conical bottom 16 at the inner end of a cylindrical portion 17. Of course, the bottom of the bowl could be shaped differently, but herein it is substantially conical in order to alford a seat for the piston which is frusto-conical and conveniently made of die-stamped sheet metal. \Vhen the piston is seated in the bottom of the bowl, it afiords a seat for a pad 18 preferably made of textile or suitable soft fibrous material in the form of disc which is larger in diameter than the bowland which is adapted to be pushed into the bowl, as shown in Fig. 2. The construction is such that the disc is contracted and will expand when expelled by the piston (Fig. 3) and thereby hold itself in place in the vagina. V

In this instance, a-cord 19 is attached to the center of the pad to provide means for removing it after it has served its purpose.

Referring to- Figs. 2 and 3, the piston has an eye or hole 20 adapted to be alinedwith aneye or hole 21 through the bottom portion of the bowl and the cord is passed through these holes so as to lie alongside ofthe handle, as shown, and not interfere with the insertion of the instrument. This cord should be held straight by a finger or thumb when the ininstrument is removed, the holes or eyes slide over the cord. The novel disc-shaped pad has sufficient resiliency to expand and assume or tend to assume its disc-shape when releasedand also presents soft absorbent edges to which the ointment or medicament may be applied, thus insuring that the application will be held against the neck of the womb.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved applicator and asso ciated medicament pad are very simple and easy for a woman to apply without the aid of a surgeon or physician. They can be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price. Further, the pads will remain in place after they are released and will afford relief to the infected or diseased part. In short, the invention provides the easiest and most eflicient method now known to us for treating comprising, in combination, a substantially hemispherical head having a cylindrical pad receiving bowl portion and a cup-shaped bottom; a relatively small tubular handle projecting from the rear end of the head; a

plunger extending through the handle; a

cup-shaped piston on the end of the plunger adapted to be seated against the bottom of the bowl behind the cylindrical portion; and a disk shaped medicament pad of larger diameter than the bowl adapted to be inserted in the cylindrical portion againstthe piston.

2. An applicator of the character described comprising, in combination, a substantially hemispherical head having a cylindrical pad receiving bowl portion and a cup-shaped bottom; a relatively small tubular handle projecting from the rear end of the head; a

plunger extending through the handle; a cup-shaped piston on the end of the plunger adapted to be seated against the bottom of the bowl behind the cylindrical portion; a disk-shaped medicament pad of larger di ameter than the bowl inserted and frictionally held inthe cylindrical portion thereof; and a cord connected to the pad, said head and said cup-shaped piston having alined openings on one-side through which the cord is threaded.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto aflixed our signatures.

BURTON A; WASHBURN.. FRED S. LACK. 

